Karen Louise Schmitz (81), long-time resident of Claremore, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully on March 11, 2026. She was born in Salem, Illinois, on July 25, 1944, and later moved with her family to Fairfield, Illinois. She was the youngest of three children. After graduating from Fairfield Community High School in 1962, she attended Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Education degree. She went on to earn a Master of Science degree from the University of Illinois in 1966.

She felt the call to religious life and joined the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary. Thanks in part to her love for music, she served as a secondary music teacher in St. Louis before moving to Oklahoma in the late 1970s. She worked for a time at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Catholic Church in Tulsa as the Director of Religious Education and Choir Director before moving in 1980 to be the Director of Religious Education at St. Cecilia's Catholic Church in Claremore. She not only led the religious education program for the parish, but also started a folk group at the parish where she played her guitar.

She found her next calling when she purchased Agape Child Care Center & Preschool in Claremore, Oklahoma, in 1987. Karen retired 34 years later. She wrote in her final letter to parents: "Having spent almost half of my life here, I have wonderful and funny memories of hundreds, maybe thousands, of children, families, and teachers who have come through these doors. It is always a delight for me to see people who have been here as children return to bring their own children. Just like your own families, we've rejoiced over new babies, laughed at the antics of your children, and scratched our heads when unbelievable things happened. We've also wept over children and adults who left this earth too early."

Not only did she love the Lord, family, her day care family, music, and chocolate, but she also loved cats. They were members of her family for many years.

Karen is preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Waneta Schmitz, sister-in-law, Alma Schmitz, nephew, Dan Schmitz, and great nephew, Adam Schmitz.

Karen is survived by her brother, Dick Schmitz, of Tulsa, sister, Gretchen Schmitz, of Claremore, nephews, Paul Schmitz and wife Janet of Broken Arrow, Mike Schmitz and wife Sarah of Okmulgee, and Tim Schmitz of Tulsa, niece-in-law, Kay Schmitz (wife of the late Dan Schmitz) of Tulsa, three grandnieces, five grandnephews, two great- grandnephews and one great-grandniece.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at noon on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in the chapel at Calvary Cemetery, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a contribution to your favorite charity.